Notice of Privacy Practices

This Notice Describes How Medical Information about you may be used and Disclosed and how you may get access to the information. This Notice of Privacy Practices (“notice”) describes how Artella Solutions, Inc. may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (“PHI”), and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully

Collection of Information

Artella Solutions Portal collects patient and study information related to remote arrhythmia monitoring, mobile cardiac telemetry, cardiac event, Holter, Extended Holter, not limited to patient electrocardiogram data, date of birth and/or age, relevant symptoms and diagnoses, and other related information. This information may also include contact information for the patient or study subject, emergency contact information, mailing address, information about health insurance and/or other information necessary for Artella to provide and bill for the technology and/or monitoring services.

Information is managed in the Artella Solutions Portal which allows the physician and/or clinic or hospital to access patient information from remote locations. 

In performing these services, Artella Solutions receives and produces information that is protected health information including electronic protected information (collectively, “PHI”) as defined by federal regulations. PHI includes identifiable information that relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual, healthcare provided to an individual, or payment for healthcare provided to an individual. We may use such PHI for the purpose of interpretation of data, payment and other related healthcare actions. Artella Solutions is required by law to (i) maintain the privacy and security of your PHI; (ii) provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to such information; (iii) notify you and/or any affected individuals following a breach of unsecured PHI that may have compromised the privacy and security of your information; and (iv) abide by the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices currently in effect. 

Authorized Uses and Disclosures

This section describes the use and disclosure of your PHI. Other than as stated below or as otherwise required by law, Artella Solutions will not disclose your PHI other than with your written authorization. If you authorize Artella Solutions to use or disclose your health information, you may revoke that authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent that action has already been taken in reliance on the authorization. 

Artella Solutions is not required to have your written consent or authorization to use and disclose PHI for the following purposes:

To Make or Obtain Payment

Your PHI may be disclosed to obtain payment for healthcare services provided. This may include certain activities that your health insurance plan may undertake before it approves or pays for healthcare services we provide for you such as making a determination of eligibility or coverage for insurance benefits, reviewing services provided to you for medical necessity and undertaking utilization review activities. For example, billing a private insurance carrier for the services provided by Artella Solutions.

For Treatment

We will use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and any related services. This includes the coordination and/or management of your healthcare with a third party that has already obtained your permission to have access to your PHI. For example, we would disclose your PHI to a physician who ordered your study or to whom you have been referred as to ensure the necessary information is available to accurately treat or diagnose you.

Communicable Diseases

We may disclose your PHI, if authorized by law, to a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease or may otherwise be at risk of contracting or spreading the disease or condition.

Abuse or Neglect

We may disclose your PHI to a public health authority that is authorized by law to receive reports of child abuse or neglect. In addition, we may disclose your PHI if we believe that you have been a victim of abuse or domestic violence to the governmental agency authorized to receive such information. The disclosure will be made consistent with the requirements of applicable federal and state laws.

For Law Enforcement Purposes

We may disclose health information for law enforcement purposes as required by law or in response to a valid subpoena or court order.

Coroners, Funeral Directors and Medical Examiners

We may disclose health information to funeral directors, medical examiners and coroners to carry out these duties consistent with applicable law.

Required by Law

We may use or disclose your PHI to the extent that the law requires. The use or disclosure will be made in compliance with the law and will be limited to the relevant requirements of the law.

Research

We may disclose information to researchers when certain conditions have been met such as their research has been approved and established protocols are in place to ensure the privacy and security of your PHI.

Threat to Health or Safety

We may use or disclose protected health information to avert a serious threat to your health or safety, or the health and safety of others.

Government Agencies

We may disclose protected health information to authorized government agencies when necessary for national security or intelligence purposes or for certain military and veteran’s activities.

For Workers’ Compensation

We may disclose protected health information with those who need it in order to provide benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses.

Persons Involved in Your Healthcare

We may disclose to a member of your family, other relative, or a close personal friend, or any other person identified by you, with your consent, the protected health information directly relevant to that person’s involvement with your healthcare or payment for your healthcare.

Uses and Disclosures with Your Authorization

We will obtain your authorization for any use or disclosure of your PHI for purposes other than those summarized above, including (1) any use or disclosure of PHI for marketing, except for face-to-face communications with you and except for promotional gifts of nominal value; and (2) any disclosure of protected health information in exchange for direct or indirect payment (other than reasonable fees to cover the cost of preparation or other fees permitted by law), except for disclosures for treatment and payment purposes; for public health purposes; for certain research purposes; in connection with the sale of our business; to and from our accountants, attorneys and other business associates; in response to a request from you; or required by law.

Right to Request Restrictions

You have the right to request restrictions on our use or disclosure of your PHI for treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You also have the right to restrict the PHI we disclose about you to a family member, friend or other person who is involved in your care or the payment for your care. We are not required to agree to your requested restriction, except that we must agree to a request for a restriction of a disclosure for payment or healthcare operations purposes if you or someone else (other than your health plan) has already paid in full for the services to which the PHI relates, unless the disclosure is required by law. If we do agree to accept your requested restriction, we will comply with your request except as needed to provide you emergency treatment.

Right to Access Personal Health Information

You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your medical information that we maintain in a designated record set, which includes your medical and billing records. You may provide explicit consent to obtain your medical information via a written request release authorization form. These records will be provided to you in the time frames established by law. Artella Solutions may charge a reasonable fee for our costs in copying and mailing your requested information.

Right to Amend Your Health Information

If you believe that any health information in your medical or billing records is incorrect or if you believe that important information is missing, you may request that we correct the existing information or add the missing information. Such requests must be made in writing and must provide a reason to support the amendment. We may deny your request for amendment in certain circumstances. If we deny your request for amendment, we will give you a written denial including the reasons for the denial and the right to submit a written statement disagreeing with the denial.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You have the right to request an “accounting” of our disclosures of your personal health information. This is a listing of certain disclosures of your personal health information made by us or by others on our behalf, but does not include disclosures to you, disclosures for treatment, payment and healthcare operations, and certain other exceptions. To request an accounting of disclosures, you must submit a request in writing, stating a time period that is within six years prior to the date of your request. An accounting will include, if requested: the disclosure date; the name of the person or entity that received the information and address, if known; a brief description of the information disclosed; a brief statement of the purpose of the disclosure or a copy of the authorization request; or certain summary information concerning multiple similar disclosures. Artella Solutions may charge a reasonable fee for our costs in copying and mailing your requested information.

Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice

You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice, even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically. You may request of copy of this notice at any time.

Right to Revoke Authorization

You may revoke an authorization to use or disclose PHI, except to the extent that action has already been taken in reliance on the authorization. This request must be made in writing and should be sent to the address below.

Right to Breach Notification

In certain instances, you have the right to be notified in the event that we, or one of our business associates, discover an inappropriate use or disclosure of your PHI.  Notice of any such use or disclosure will be made in accordance with applicable federal and state requirements.

For More Information

If you have questions or would like additional information please call, email or write:

Patient Safety and Information Department
710 North Post Oak Road
Suite 515
Houston, Texas  77024
E-mail: info@artellainc.com

Updated February 2023